The annual Voluntary Support to Education (VSE) survey results were released recently, and the annual publication hit my desk this week. Finally, some good news for higher education:
Contributions rose nine percent to $33.8 billion. “The total is the highest recorded in the history of the survey. In 2009, voluntary support fell from $31.6 billion, which was then the historical high, to $27.85 billion.”
As is consistent across all sectors, individuals remain the greatest source of contributions at 44.9% of total.
Foundation support was 29.6% of the total, but this figure includes family foundations, a growing source of funding in higher education.
Corporate giving continued its steady decline percentagewise from 22% in 1983 to 15.1% in 2013.
However, this figure does not include corporate support of contracted-sponsored research, clinical trials, pouring rights, sponsorships, and software partnerships, which is not counted in the VSE survey.
More than $9 billion in funds was contributed by alumni donors, or 26.6% of the total.
What is especially interesting is the significant support from individuals who are not alumni of the institution they are supporting. Just under $5 billion was contributed by non-alumni representing 17.3% of the total.
What does this mean for your organization? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.
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